  | March 18, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Home Depot brings back Black Friday in spring
Home Depot is bringing back the Black Friday-type spring promotion it launched last year. The retailer has hired about 60,000 seasonal workers as it launches regional lawn and garden promotions and sales events designed to herald the coming of spring. The effort includes social media, with weekly Black Friday-style discount offers scheduled for Facebook. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/17)       - Timberland's second foray into Boston has tighter focus
New Hampshire-based Timberland has opened a new store in Boston, its first in the market since closing its only location in 1998. The seller of sturdy namesake boots and outdoorsy apparel says it plans to do things differently this time around, with a targeted, brand-specific merchandise lineup of footwear and apparel. "One of our biggest problems before was the lack of brand focus. We had too broad a range of products with things like women's handbags," said CEO Jeff Swartz. The Boston Globe (free registration) (3/17) - Borders will shutter 28 more stores
Borders Group said it will close 28 more stores as part of its bankruptcy reorganization, in addition to 200 locations being closed. The bookstore chain filed for Chapter 11 last month. Additionally, the company is working with most of its largest vendors on cash-on-delivery terms, but it hopes to resume regular payment terms soon. Chicago Tribune/Reuters (3/17)  | To become a top-performing distributor, you must:
• Achieve 98% inventory accuracy.
• Reach 95% on-time and complete shipment rates.
• Maintain 12-hour order-to-shipment cycle times.
• Achieve 13% cycle-time reductions from ERP use.
Distributors, how do you stack up against top performers? View the Aberdeen webcast to find out. | - How department stores are going from staid to stylish
U.S. department stores have been working hard to revamp their offerings and become relevant to younger shoppers enticed by the fast-fashion and cutting-edge styles offered by specialty apparel chains. Chains including J.C. Penney, Macy's, Dillard's and Kohl's all have added exclusive lines of designer offerings that have helped them move ahead of some specialty store rivals. Bloomberg Businessweek (3/17) - Consumers slow to adopt the reusable bag habit
Shoppers at Kroger and Safeway stores want to switch to reusable bags but are having a hard time remembering to bring their bags when they shop, the chains say. Kroger is dropping the cash rebates and gas discounts it offers shoppers who bring their bags with them in favor of reminder signs and other educational efforts designed to help consumers adopt the habit. The Detroit News/The Associated Press (3/17) - Retailers backed off apparel price increases last month
Merchants that tested higher prices in January met with resistance from consumers, leading them to reverse course, according to the Consumer Price Index released Thursday. Retail prices on men's and women's apparel fell in February, the index showed, despite higher commodity prices and inflationary pressures across the rest of the supply chain. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/17) - Designers loosen up with new men's fashions
Men's clothing designers have started sending models out onto the catwalk in looser fitting clothes than the slim silhouettes of recent seasons, but upscale department stores say their customers have finally gotten comfortable in the form-fitting looks, which are selling well, and may not be ready to switch again soon. "It took us a long time to get men into flat-front pants. I don't think either the customers or the stores are ready to throw that away," said Nickelson Wooster, men's fashion director at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The Wall Street Journal (3/17)  | Akamai - The Right Partner with the Right Solution
Are you failing to to satisfy user expectations for an outstanding online shopping experience? Do you need to accelerate your dynamic content? Do you strive to be a retailer that pushes the envelope with site technology and offerings? Learn why the Akamai Dynamic Site Accelerator is the right solution for those issues and more. |
| NRF News |  | | | - Gilt and Google talk tablet retail
As a leader in iPad retail applications, Gilt Groupe is riding high on the success of a unique tablet user experience. Thinking about launching an iPad app? In a recent Shop.org blog post, hear execs from Gilt and Google share what they've learned so far about tablet retailing -- and why the future looks bright. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: March 18, 2011
 February retail sales increased 0.6% over January. Source: NRF. - The Container Store's employee-centric mantra
Known as one of the 100 Best Places to Work and a Top 50 Employer, according to Fortune Magazine, The Container Store's mantra is simple: treat the employee well and they in turn will treat the customers well. A founder and iconic leader of the company, Kip Tindell, was recently featured on CBS, touting his simple philosophy of "conscious capitalism." Check out Kip Tindell's interview here.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Japan's crisis hits global restaurant chains
McDonald's, Starbucks, Yum! Brands and other international restaurant chains have experienced significant growth in Japan over the past several years. Many of the companies' locations near the area affected by the earthquake remain closed or damaged, which is expected to hit company revenue. A spokeswoman for Starbucks said roughly 100 stores in Japan have closed because of the earthquake and its aftermath. "While assessments are ongoing, reports indicate several Starbucks stores in the affected areas in the east have sustained from moderate to significant damage," the spokeswoman said. Nasdaq.com/Dow Jones Newswires (3/17) - French cafe company acquires Bruegger's
Paris-based Le Duff Group has acquired 300-store U.S. bagel and bakery chain Bruegger's for an undisclosed amount, in a deal that will make the French bakery and cafe company the world's second largest, behind Panera Bread. Le Duff operates the La Madeleine chain in the U.S., and 820 Del Arte and Brioche Doree stores. The group said it expects to lend more French flavor to the menus at Bruegger's and turn some of the U.S. stores into Brioche Doree cafes. FastCasual.com (3/17), ninemsn (Australia)/Australian Associated Press (3/18) | Career Track | | | |
 | |  | | | | |  |  Merchant Opportunities at Kohl's | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Senior Buyer, Sports & Outdoors | Amazon.com | Seattle, WA | | Director of Customer Loyalty | Aeropostale | New York, NY | | Energy Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | Regional Retail Point of Sale (ROPS) Coordinator/NTE 2 years | Headquarters, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Industrial Engineer LOGS | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Sr. Strategy Project Manager, Logistics | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Senior Planner, Various Categories | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Replenishment Manager | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Distribution Center Area Director | PetSmart | Atlanta, GA | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Softlines Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Marketing Manager, Search Engine Optimization | macys.com | San Francisco, CA | | Sr. Labor/Employment Attorney | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Product Development Foods Associate | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Retail Manager | Tri-County Feeds | Marshall, VA | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | If you keep your feathers well oiled, the water of criticism will run off as from a duck's back."
--Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards,
American industrial and environmental chemist and the founder of home economics  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Thursday, March 17, 2011
- Wednesday, March 16, 2011
- Tuesday, March 15, 2011
- Monday, March 14, 2011
- Friday, March 11, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.